On March 8, the Wyoming Legislature concluded the 67th Budget Session after delivering a balanced, conservative budget to Gov. Mark Gordon. The agreement was ultimately approved after a series of budget versions were developed.

The final budget spends $209 million less than the governor proposed in November. The budget fully funds nursing homes, preschool for developmentally disabled children, and Wyoming home services for senior centers. Further, the bill invests in mental health, funds energy projects, and more fairly compensates teachers and state workers. Additionally, and importantly, the final budget restored more than $300 million for the construction of new schools.

Finally, the budget includes a provision that would only allow the sale of the Kelly Parcel if the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) outcome does not include certain elements in the federal agency’s preferred option, Alternative B.

Last year, on average, property taxes jumped more than 20% statewide. That follows a 16% increase the year prior. Over the past two years alone, the average property tax bill has grown nearly 40%.

Most often these hikes are not due to improvements to one’s home or land, but rather because a neighboring property sold at a premium, driving up valuations around it. This year, the Legislature allocated $253 million for property tax cuts and refunds. In order to provide real relief to Wyoming families, a couple of notable property tax bills the Legislature passed include:

• HB4 expands access to local property tax relief funds by lowering the qualification threshold to 175 percent of a county’s median gross household income. The level was previously set at 125 percent. These funds have already been approved and budgeted by the Legislature. This legislation simply makes them accessible to more residents in need.

• SF54 brings the largest form of relief to over 93 percent of Wyoming homeowners. In its amended form the bill exempts 25 percent exemption of assessed value for single-family homes valued at $2 million or less in Wyoming. The shift to a percentage allows a more equitable exemption for most Wyomingites that need it. This exemption would be available for 2025.

Additional noteworthy bills that passed this week include:

• HB0014 helps our hospitals and fellow Wyomingites by addressing prior authorization, which health care providers must obtain from insurance companies. This bill guarantees patients access to previously approved treatments and medications and provides a buffer if their health insurance plan changes their coverage or the approval criteria for their treatment. Until now, Wyoming was the only state with no laws on the book relating to this topic. This bill has been signed into law by the governor.

• HB0015 Health insurance-reimbursement of overpayments allows insurance companies two years, not the current timeframe of 10 years, to request overpayment. This decreases the outstanding liabilities on medical providers and allows for faster closure on medical claims.

Prior to this bill becoming state law, in Wyoming, providers had one year to file a claim after services are provided, but insurers had up to 10 years to come back to a health care provider and request reimbursement for overpayment. This bill was also signed into law by the Governor.

• SF75 omnibus water bill-construction passed the House. The bill authorizes spending for specified level-three water construction projects. Projects that get approved by the Select Water Committee go through a robust process that meet specified criteria. The process exists to ensure a fair and equitable access to state dollars for water projects. There was an attempt through an amendment to add a project to this list but this amendment failed. It’s important to note that by allowing any project that has not gone through proper vetting it erodes the process. Water is one of our most precious resources and these water projects are of upmost importance.

• SF99 prohibits physicians from performing procedures related to gender transitioning and gender reassignment on children. As written, I was concerned this bill would not allow children to receive the mental health treatment needed but an amendment ensure children can still receive necessary mental health they need.

• SF105, passed the House this week. This bill shares similarities with HB151, a bill that died earlier in the Session. This bill curbs discrimination on credit card transactions related to firearms and prohibits governmental entities from maintaining lists or registries of privately owned firearms.

• SF109, also known as the Prohibit Red Flag Gun Seizure Act, seeks to prevent the implementation of federal red flag gun laws within Wyoming. These federal regulations allow individuals to petition a court for temporary restrictions on someone’s access to firearms. This bill aims to safeguard Second Amendment rights while ensuring that due process is followed before anyone’s firearms are seized.

• SF103 allows the sale of homemade meat products directly to consumers. This legislation empowers local producers and ensures that Wyomingites have access to high-quality, locally sourced products. The bill streamlines regulations while maintaining consumer safety through mandatory warnings.

• SF111 separates whitetail and mule deer hunting seasons. The two deer species are different and currently the Wyoming Game and Fish Department manages the species differently. By separating the species in statute, it provides the Game and Fish the flexibility to make adjustments to each species hunting season as necessary. This bill failed on third reading in the House.

• SF118 allows for the reintroduction of bighorn sheep back into the Sweetwater Rocks area, near Jeffrey City. Wyoming formed a bighorn-domestic sheep working plan in 2004 and is used to introduce bighorn sheep without pushing livestock grazers out. In other states, federal agencies have closed grazing leases in favor of wildlife so Wyoming having a plan and following the plan has allowed wildlife and ranchers to co-exist. This bill has several amendments and we will continue working it on second and third reading.

It is my privilege to represent you in the Wyoming Legislature. If you have any questions or concerns about this Legislative Session, please do not hesitate to contact me at 307-679-3539.